Cleanout fitting



April 1, 1941. s. CLARK CLEANOUT FITTING Filed May 51, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 saw, I

A itorney April 1, 1941. s. CLARK 2,236,937

CLEANOUT FITTING Filed May 31, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor JPE/VCER (ZARK,

' A itorney.

Patented Apr. 1, 1941 entree STATES/PATENT orrlce CLEAN OUT FITTING Spencer Clark, Daytona Beach, Fla.

Application May 31, 1940, Serial No. 338,265

3 Claims.

This invention relates to means for facilitating clearing out stopped underground pipes and particularly drains which connect dwelling houses with street sewers.

More particularly the invention has reference to a plumbing fitting or fixture through the use of which one may readily ascertain approximately the point in the sewer line or drain leading thereto where the sediment or other foreign matter has accumulated, or in other words whether this accumulation has taken place either in the sewer line or in the connection between the line and the plumbing fixture such as a toilet bowl, urinal, or the like.

Further in accordance with the present invention means is provided whereby an ordinary garden hose may be used for flushing out the line.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view illustrating the application of the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged front elevational View of the fitting constituting the invention.

Figure 3 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 2 but showing the parts as positioned during a flushing operation.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional View taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is a transverse'sectional View taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Referring more in detail to the drawings it will be seen that 5 indicates generally the underground sewer pipe while 6 indicates generally a drain connection between the pipe 5 and a plumbing fixture such as a toilet bowl, urinal, or the like.

In accordance with the present invention there is interposed in the drain 6 a section of pipe I thatis formed intermediate its ends with a formation 8 that is substantially of the cross-sectional shape shown in Figure 5 and presents a relatively flat front wall 9.

The wall 9 is provided with a sight opening It for which a transparent cover II, preferably of glass, is provided.

For the transparency II there is provided a retaining frame I2 that is adapted to be bolted or otherwise secured as at I3 to the wall 9 for retaining the transparency II in position thereon and with respect to the opening I0.

Further in accordance with the present invention there are provided a pair of plates I4 and I5 that are respectively hinged to the wall 9 adjacent the upper and lower edges thereof as at I6 and I1 respectively.

During an actual flushing or cleanout operation, at which time the transparency II and associated frame I2 are removed from the wall 9, hinged plates 14 and I5 are disposed flatly against the outer side of the wall 9 and substantially over the opening II], being secured in this position through the medium of screws I3 as best shown in Figure 3.

The plates I4 and I5 at the free edges thereof, and which edges confront when the plates I4 and I5 are in the position just described and shown in Figure 3, are provided with complemental arcuate notches I9 so as to provide a circular opening of relatively small diameter, and of a diameter to accommodate a hose or other flexible conduit 20, as shown in Figure 3, and which is used for supplying water to the sewer or drain connection for flushing purposes.

From the above it will be apparent that should it appear that, for example, an accumulation of sediment or other foreign matter has formed in the sewer '5 between the outlet end of the sewer and the connection between the sewer and the drain 8 the Water, normally flowing in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 1, will back up into the connection 6 and presently the level of the water in the drain connection 6 will be viewable through the transparency II. Under such condition the transparency II is removed, the plates I4 and I5 swung to and secured in the position shown in Figure 3 and the nozzle end of the hose introduced through the opening formed by the notches I9, when the hose may be threaded through the drain 6 and the sewer 5 as the length of the hose will permit, and the water then supplied through the hose for flushing out the sewer main 5.

Should, however, such an accumulation of sediment or other foreign matter take place in the drain 6 and above the pipe section I, one will readily notice, by peering through the sight opening ID that the water is not flowing downwardly through the drain 6 and from that will properly conclude that the accumulation of such sediment is somewhere in the main 6 above the pipe section 1. Having so ascertained this the manner of flushing the drain 6, through the medium of water supplied through the hose 20, will be substantially identical with that described with reference to removing the accumulation from the sewer main 5, it being apparent however that under this latter circumstance the nozzle of the hose would be pointed upwardly so that the stream of water issuing therefrom will be directed upwardly through the drain 6 and against the accumulation therein to dislodge the latter.

It will also be apparent that with a fitting inter: posed in the drain in accordance with the teachings of this invention the flushing of the main 5 or the drain 6 periodically can be easily attended to.

It is thought that a clear understanding of the manner of use, utility and advantages of a fitting embodying the features of the present invention will be had without a more detailed description.

While I have herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to restrict the invention to the precise details of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts as herein illustrated, other than as may be necessary in View of the prior art and scope of the claim hereunto appended.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. In a cleanout fitting for drain, sewer, and analogous pipe lines, a pipe section adapted to be interposed in the line, said pipe section having a sight opening in the wall thereof, a transparency normally closing said opening, and a pair of plates hinged to the wall of the pipe section at diametrically opposite sides of said opening and adapted 'to be swung into position against the Wall of said pipe section for substantially closing the opening therein when said transparency is removed, said hinged plates having notches in the free edges thereof complementing one another when the plates are in the position last named to provide a relatively small opening for the insertion of an instrumentality therethrough and into the main for effecting a cleaning out of the latter.

2. A device for facilitating the opening of stopped drain pipes, sewer mains, and analogous conduits, a pipe section adapted to be interposed in said conduit, said section being provided intermediate its ends with a formation presenting substantially a relatively flat wall for said section, said wall being provided with an opening, a transparent closure for said opening removably mounted on said wall, and a pair of cover paltes hinged to said wall to be folded substantially fiat against the wall when said transparent closure plate is removed, said hinged plates being of a size to substantially reduce the opening in said wall when said hinged plates are in the last-named position, and said hinged plates having complemental notches in the confronting edges thereof providing a relatively small opening for the introduction therethrough and into the conduit of a hose for forcing water through the conduit.

3. In a device of the character described, a pipe section having a relatively flat wall portion provided with an opening, a transparent closure for said opening removably mounted on said wall, and auxiliary closure plates for said opening hingedly mounted on said wall and adapted to overlie said opening when said hinged plates are disposed substantially flat against said wall, said hinged plates having notches in the free edges thereof providing therebetween an opening of a size materially less than the size of the opening in said wall, as and for the purpose specified.

SPENCER CLARK. 

